IGBT with waved floating P-Well electron injection

ABSTRACT

An IGBT includes a floating P well and a floating N+ well that extends down into the floating P well. A bottom surface of the floating P well has a waved contour with thinner portions and thicker portions. When the device is on, electrons flow laterally from an N+ emitter and through a channel region. Some electrons pass downward, but others pass laterally through the floating N+ well to one of the thinner portions of the floating P type well. The electrons then pass down from the thinner portions into the N− drift layer. Other electrons pass farther through the floating N+ well to subsequent, thinner electron injector portions of the floating P type well and then into the N− drift layer. The extra electron injection afforded by the waved floating well structure reduces VCE(SAT). The waved contour is made without adding any masking step to the IGBT manufacturing process.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority under35 U.S.C. § 120 from, nonprovisional U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/840,322 entitled “IGBT With Waved Floating P-Well ElectronInjection,” filed on Aug. 31, 2015. The subject matter of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/840,322 is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The described embodiments relate to Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors(IGBTs).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

One type of Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) involves an N+ typebuffer layer or “field stop” layer disposed over a top layer of P typesemiconductor substrate material. An N− type drift layer is disposed onthe N+ type buffer layer. The N+ type buffer layer and the N− type driftlayer may, for example, be epitaxially formed on the P type substrate. AP type body region is formed to extend down into the N− type drift layerfrom an upper semiconductor surface of the N− type drift layer. An N+type emitter region extends from the surface down into the P type bodyregion. A gate is disposed over a channel portion of the P type bodyregion at the upper semiconductor surface. The channel portion is asurface portion of the P type body semiconductor material region thatextends from the N+ type emitter region on one side to a portion of theN− type drift region at the other side. An emitter metal electrode iscoupled to the N+ type emitter region and to the P type body region. Acollector metal electrode is formed on the bottom surface of the P typesubstrate. A gate metal electrode on the top of the structure is coupledto the gate.

To turn on the IGBT device, a voltage on the gate induces inversion inthe channel portion of the P type body region. A current flow in theform of electrons passes laterally from the N+ type emitter region,laterally through the channel portion, and to the N− type material ofthe N− type layer region at the semiconductor surface. From this surfaceregion of the N− type drift layer, the path of electrons turns fromlateral to vertical so that the electrons then pass vertically downthrough the N− type drift layer toward the P type collector layer. Someof the current carrying capacity of the device between the collector andemitter is due to this electron flow. In addition, holes are injectedupward from the P type collector layer upward into the N+ buffer layer,and upward further into the N− drift layer. Another portion of thecurrent carrying capacity of the device between the collector andemitter is therefore due to this hole flow. Because both holes andelectrons are responsible for the current carrying capacity of the IGBTdevice, the device is a “bipolar” device.

As is understood in the art, increasing the concentration of chargecarriers, both electrons and holes, in the N− type drift layer, andmaintaining the proper balance and distribution of holes to electrons inthe N− type drift layer, serves to reduce the collector-to-emittersaturation voltage V_(CE(SAT)) of the IGBT device. The desired highconcentration of charge carriers in the N− type drift layer is sometimesreferred to as a “plasma” or an “electron/hole gas”. It may bedesirable, however, in a given structure to reduce the hole injectionefficiency of the junction between the P type collector layer and the N+type buffer layer. Alternatively, or in addition, it may be desirable tomaintain a high concentration of holes in the N− drift layer by reducingthe escape of holes from the N− type drift layer into the P type bodyregion. In one example, some of the cells at the upper surface of theIGBT are made to be so-called floating “dummy cells”. The floating Pbodies of these cells are not coupled to the emitter electrode. Anothertop-side structure that can be employed to reduce the escape of holes isa floating P type well or layer. Such a floating P type well is anamount of floating P type semiconductor material at the uppersemiconductor surface. Due to the inclusion of such floating P type wellstructures in the upper part of the IGBT, the overall proportion of holeabsorbing P type body material at the upper part of the IGBT device isreduced. With such a floating P type well, electron injection in theupper part of the IGBT is adequate, but the absorption of holes out ofthe N− drift region is reduced because the proportion of the upper partof the IGBT that is hole absorbing P type body material is reduced. As aresult, the rate of hole escape from the N− drift region is reduced andthe hole concentration in the N− drift region during device on time isincreased. Accordingly, the resistivity of the N− type drift layer isreduced, and the voltage drop across the drift layer when the device ison is reduced.

In addition to IGBTs, there are other devices such as so-calledMOS-Controlled Thyristor (MCT) devices and so-called Emitter SwitchedThyristor (EST) devices. There are several variations of each of thesedevices, including dual channel EST devices. In one exemplary deviceconsidered here, a floating N+ type region is disposed at the uppersemiconductor surface of the device so that this floating N+ type regionextends into a floating P type region. The floating P type regionextends into the upper surface of an N− type layer. The N− type layer isin turn disposed over a P type substrate layer. A vertically disposedNPN bipolar transistor structure therefore exists. The floating N+ typelayer serves as the emitter. The floating P type region serves as thebase. The N− type semiconductor material immediately beneath thefloating P type region serves as the collector. In addition, a lateralfield effect transistor structure is disposed at the top of the deviceto the side of the floating structures. When the device is to be turnedon, a voltage on the gate of the lateral field effect transistor inducesinversion in a channel region of the lateral field effect transistor.Electrons flow laterally through the channel, and then flow furtherlaterally into the floating N+ type region and also into the floating Ptype region. This current into the floating structures causes the NPNbipolar transistor to turn on. As a result, the NPN bipolar transistorinjects electrons downward into the N− type layer. A second bipolartransistor, which is a PNP bipolar transistor, is disposed on the bottomof the device. The NPN bipolar transistor and the PNP bipolar transistorare interconnected in such a way that they are referred to as athyristor. The floating P type region serves at the collector of thissecond PNP transistor. The N− type layer beneath the P type regionserves as the base of this second PNP transistor. The P type substrateserves as the emitter of this second PNP transistor. In the case of anMCT device, once both bipolar transistors turn on, they create a latchup condition such that the gate has no further control on thecollector-to-emitter current. This is proper for thyristor operation,but is unacceptable in an IGBT.

An improved IGBT structure and device is desired that has a highconcentration of electrons and holes in its drift region during its onstate, but yet turns off fast and does not suffer latchup and otherproblems.

SUMMARY

A planar IGBT die structure has a P type body region and an N+ typeemitter region that extends down into the P type body region from anupper semiconductor surface. The IGBT die structure also has a novelfloating P type well region, and a novel floating N+ type well regionthat extends down into the floating P type well region from the uppersemiconductor surface. These novel floating well structures arelaterally displaced with respect to the P type body region when a unitcell of the IGBT is considered from a cross-sectional perspective. Agate of the IGBT has a first portion and a second portion. The firstportion of the gate is disposed over a first channel region. The firstchannel region extends laterally all the way from the N+ type emitterregion of the IBGT to the floating N+ type well region. The secondportion of the gate is disposed over a second channel region. The secondchannel region extends laterally between the floating N+ type wellregion and an electron injector portion of the N− type drift layer ofthe IGBT.

In a novel aspect, the bottom interface between the floating P type wellregion and the underlying N− type drift layer has a waved contour. As aresult of the waved contour, the floating P type well region has thinnerportions and thicker portions. In an on state of the IGBT, electronsflow from the N+ type emitter and flow laterally across the firstchannel region. Some electrons at this point pass downward deeper intothe N− type drift layer toward the bottom of the IGBT as isconventional. Other electrons, however, pass laterally into the floatingN+ type well region, pass laterally through the floating N+ type wellregion, and to a local bipolar transistor. The local bipolar transistoris located at a thinner portion of the floating P type well. Someelectrons are injected by this local bipolar transistor vertically downinto the N− type drift layer. Other electrons, however, pass laterallyfarther through the floating N+ type well region to the second channelregion, and then pass laterally through the second channel region, andto the electron injector portion of the N− type drift layer. From theelectron injector portion, these electrons pass vertically downwardthrough the N− type drift layer toward the bottom of the IGBT device.The injection of additional electrons, due to the local bipolartransistor and due to the second channel region and the electroninjector portion, promotes a desirable high concentration and a moreuniform distribution of charge carriers in the N− type drift layer. Thefloating well structures can be tailored to cause a good distribution ofsuch carriers in the N− type drift layer. As a result, the novelfloating well structures promote a low V_(CE(SAT)) for the IGBT when thedevice is on.

In the IGBT off state, the first and second channels are off. Thesidewall of the floating P type well region that is closest to the Ptype body of the IGBT is one of the thicker parts of the floating P typewell region. This thickness results in the IBGT having a higher reversebreakdown withstand voltage than it would have otherwise were thefloating P type well region thinner at this sidewall location. In someembodiments, the IGBT has an N+ type buffer layer disposed between theIGBT's P++ type collector layer and the IGBT's N− type drift layer. Thewaved floating well structure is usable in both punch-through IGBTs(PT-IGBT) and non-punch-through IGBTs (NPT-IGBT).

In another novel aspect, a method of making an IGBT involves making thewaved bottom contour of a floating P type well region using the samering mask that is used to make floating rings in the edge terminationarea of the IGBT. Due to the additional use of this ring mask that isused in the manufacturing process any way, no additional masking step isrequired in order to make the waved bottom contour of the novel IGBT ascompared to manufacturing an otherwise identical IBGT having a floatingP type well with a planar bottom surface. In one aspect, the depth ofthe thinner portions of the floating P type well region is set bysetting the spacing between P type dopant implant regions when thefloating P type well region is implanted. The number of thinner regions,and the spacing between adjacent thinner regions, is also readilyadjusted and set by modification of just the ring mask layer, withoutchanging anything else in the remainder of the semiconductormanufacturing process used to make the IGBT. Various differentembodiments of IGBT unit cells are disclosed that have differentgeometries of floating P type wells, different numbers of floating Ptype wells, different geometries and numbers of electron injectors,different geometries and numbers of thinner versus thicker portions ofthe floating P type well regions, and different geometries and numbersof surrounding N+ type emitter regions. A floating P type well region ofa unit cell may have multiple thinner portions, where the spacingbetween one adjacent pair of thinner portions is different than thespacing between another adjacent pair of thinner portions.

Further details and embodiments and techniques are described in thedetailed description below. This summary does not purport to define theinvention. The invention is defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, where like numerals indicate like components,illustrate embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a unit cell of an IGBT diestructure in accordance with one novel aspect.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram that points out the first channelregion and the second channel region in the IGBT die structure of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional diagram that illustrates electron injectionfrom a local NPN bipolar transistor of a floating well structure of theIGBT die structure of FIG. 1, and electron injection from a secondchannel of the floating well structure of the IGBT die structure of FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a top-down diagram of the unit cell of the IGBT die structureof FIG. 1, showing the gate structure.

FIG. 5 is a top-down diagram of the unit cell of the IGBT die structureof FIG. 1, showing other parts of the unit cell other than the gatestructure.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a firststep in a method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a secondstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a thirdstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a fourthstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a fifthstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a sixthstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a seventhstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate an eighthstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a ninthstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a tenthstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate aneleventh step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate a twelfthstep in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate athirteenth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate afourteenth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate afifteenth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate asixteenth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate aseventeenth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structureof FIG. 1.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate aneighteenth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate anineteenth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate atwentieth step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure ofFIG. 1.

FIGS. 26A and 26B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate atwenty-first step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structureof FIG. 1.

FIGS. 27A and 27B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate atwenty-second step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structureof FIG. 1.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are cross-sectional diagrams that illustrate atwenty-third step in the method of manufacturing the IGBT die structureof FIG. 1.

FIG. 29 is a top-down diagram of an IGBT unit cell that has anotherfloating P type well and electron injector geometry and layout inaccordance with another novel aspect.

FIG. 30 is a top-down diagram of an IGBT unit cell that has anotherfloating P type well and electron injector geometry and layout inaccordance with another novel aspect.

FIG. 31 is a top-down diagram of an IGBT unit cell that has anotherfloating P type well and electron injector geometry and layout inaccordance with another novel aspect.

FIG. 32 is a top-down diagram of an IGBT unit cell that has anotherfloating P type well and electron injector geometry and layout inaccordance with another novel aspect.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a unitcell of an IGBT die structure.

FIG. 34 is a top-down diagram of the unit cell of the IGBT die structureof FIG. 33, showing the gate structure.

FIG. 35 is a top-down diagram of the unit cell of the IGBT die structureof FIG. 33, showing other parts of the unit cell other than the gatestructure.

FIG. 36 is a top-down diagram of the unit cell of the IGBT die structureof FIG. 33, showing a floating P well region having an octagonal outerperiphery with rounded corners.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to background examples and someembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. In the description and claims below, when a firstobject is referred to as being disposed “over” or “on” a second object,it is to be understood that the first object can be directly on thesecond object, or an intervening object may be present between the firstand second objects. Similarly, terms such as “upper”, “top”, “up”,“down”, “vertically”, “laterally”, “lower”, “bottom”, and “backside” areused herein to describe relative orientations between different parts ofthe structure being described, and it is to be understood that theoverall structure being described can actually be oriented in any way inthree-dimensional space. The notations N+, N−, N, P++, P+, and P areonly relative, and are to be considered in context, and do not denoteany particular dopant concentration range. A region denoted generally inthe claims to be “P type”, however, is being indicated to be P typedoped, and may be lightly doped, moderately doped, or heavily doped withP type dopants. Similarly, a region denoted in the claims to be N typeis being indicated to be N type doped, and may be lightly doped,moderately doped, or heavily doped with N type dopants.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional diagram of a unit cell 1 of an IGBT diestructure 2. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 is taken along sectionalline A′-A in the top-down diagram of FIG. 4. The line labeled A at theleft of FIG. 1 corresponds to a central location A in the unit cellstructure of FIG. 4. An N+ type buffer layer (also called a “field stop”layer) 3 is disposed over the top major surface 4 of a P++ typesemiconductor substrate layer 5. An N− drift layer 6 is in turn disposedover the N+ type buffer layer 3. In one example, the three layers 5, 3and 6 are formed starting with a P++ type silicon wafer, upon which theN+ type buffer layer 3 and N− type drift layer 6 are formed by epitaxialdeposition. A P type body region 7 is formed to extend down into the N−type drift layer 6 from a substantially planar upper semiconductorsurface 8. The P type body region 7 has a relatively lighter doped Ptype portion 9 and a relatively heavily doped P+ type portion 10. An N+type emitter region 11 is formed to extend from the substantially planarupper semiconductor surface 8 down into the P type body region 7. Inaddition, a floating P type well layer or region 12 is formed to extendfrom the substantially planar upper semiconductor surface 8 down intothe N− drift layer 6 such that the floating P type well 12 is laterallyseparated from the P type body region 7 by an amount of N− typesemiconductor material as illustrated. In addition, a floating N+ typewell region or layer 13 is formed to extend down into the floating Ptype well 12 from the upper semiconductor surface 8 as illustrated. Inthe case of the example of FIG. 1, which is seen from the top-downperspective in FIG. 5, the N+ type floating well region 13 actuallyinvolves four N+ type regions as seen in FIG. 5. A polysilicon gatestructure 14 has a first portion 15 and a second portion 16, as the gateis seen in the particular cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. The gate isseparated from the substantially planar upper semiconductor surface 8 bya thin gate oxide layer 17.

The first portion 15 of the gate extends over a first channel region 18.The first channel region 18 is an amount of semiconductor materialdisposed at the upper surface 8 that extends under the gate between theleft edge of N+ type emitter region 11 in the diagram of FIG. 1 and theright edge of the floating N+ type well region 13 in the diagram ofFIG. 1. The first portion 15 of the gate is disposed so that a voltageon the gate can cause P type semiconductor material of the P type bodyregion 7 at the semiconductor surface 8 to invert, and can cause anaccumulation layer to form at the surface of the N− type semiconductormaterial between the P type body region 7 and the floating P type wellregion 12, and can cause P type semiconductor material of the floating Ptype well 12 to invert. By inducing these effects, the gate can make thefirst channel region conductive all the way from the N+ type emitterregion 11 to the floating N+ type well region 13. In the particularcross-sectional view of FIG. 1, the first channel region 18 extends allthe way from the left side of the N+ type emitter region 11, laterallyunder the gate to the left, and to the right side of the floating N+type region 13.

In addition to this first portion of the gate, there is the secondportion 16 of the gate. The second portion 16 of the gate extends over asecond channel region 19 of underlying P type semiconductor material.The second channel region 19 is an amount of P type semiconductormaterial of the floating P type well region 12 that extends at thesemiconductor surface 8 laterally between the N+ type emitter region(s)13 and an electron injector portion 20 of N type semiconductor material.In the illustrated example, the N type semiconductor material of theelectron injector portion 20 is an amount of the N− type drift layer 6that extends up to the substantially planar upper semiconductor surface8. The second portion 16 of the gate is disposed so that a voltage onthe gate can cause the second channel region 19 of P type semiconductormaterial of the floating P type well region 12 to invert. By thisinversion, the gate makes the second channel region conductive.

The IGBT die structure 2 of FIG. 1 further includes an oxide layer 21that covers the gate. A first metal electrode and terminal 22 (theemitter terminal) is disposed over the oxide 21 and is coupled both tothe N+ type emitter region 11 and to the P type body region 7. A secondmetal electrode and terminal 70 (the gate terminal) is disposed overoxide 21 and is coupled to the gate 14. The second metal electrode 70and terminal is not present in the cross-section of FIG. 1 and thereforeit is not pictured but rather it is represented by a terminal symbol. Athird metal electrode and terminal 23 (the collector terminal) is formedon the bottom major surface 24 of the P++ type substrate layer 5.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram that illustrates the first channelregion 18 and the second channel region 19. The IGBT device is turned onby placing an appropriate positive voltage on the gate 14, therebymaking the first and second channel regions conductive. In conventionalIGBT fashion, electrons flow from the N+ type emitter region 11,laterally through the first channel region in the P type body region 7,and to the N type semiconductor material at the lateral edge of the Ptype body region, and from there the electrons turn and pass verticallydownward deeper into the N− type drift layer 6. This is the standardelectron flow path in a planar IGBT of this type. In addition, inconventional IGBT fashion, the PN junction between the P+ type collectorlayer 5 and the N+ type buffer layer 3 injects holes upward, and theholes pass up into the N− type drift layer 6. A high concentration ofelectrons and holes in the N− drift layer 6 forms. This highconcentration of electrons and holes is referred to as a plasma or as anelectron/hole gas. Overall, a collector-to-emitter current in the onstate of the IGBT flows from the collector electrode 23, vertically upthrough the device, and to the emitter electrode 22.

In addition to this conventional IGBT operation, the second portion 16of the gate causes the second channel region 19 to be conductive. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, some electrons from the N+ type emitter region 11pass laterally from the N+ type emitter region 11, laterally through thefirst channel 18 under the first portion 15 of the gate to the floatingN+ type region 13. The term “channel” here is used in connection withthe term “first channel” 18 in a loose sense to refer to the combinationof a first inversion region in P type body region 9, an accumulationregion through the N− type layer 6, and a second inversion region in thefloating P type well region 12, where these three regions are orientedas shown in FIG. 2 so that electrons can flow laterally from the leftedge of N+ type emitter region 11, through the so-called first channel18, and to the right edge of floating N+ type well region 13. From theright edge of the floating N+ type well 13, the electrons flow laterallyfurther across the low resistance floating N+ type region 13, and thenlaterally through the second channel region 19, and to the electroninjector portion 20. From the electron injector portion 20 the electronsturn and pass vertically downward deeper into the N− type drift layer 6and toward the P type collector layer 5. The structure of the secondportion 16 of the gate, and the underlying P type semiconductor materialthat can invert, is referred to here as an “electron-injecting floatingfield effect transistor”. This electron-injecting floating field effecttransistor, in the on state of the overall IGBT, serves to injectadditional electrons into the N− type drift region 6 as compared to thesame structure without the floating field effect transistor, therebyincreasing the concentration of electrons in the electron/hole gas inthe on state of the IGBT. In the illustrated example, the second portion16 of the gate does not extends all the way to the left to the center ofthe unit cell (does not extend all the way to the left edge of thediagram of FIG. 2), but rather just barely covers the second channelregion 19 and does not cover all of the electron injector portion 20 toits left. The minimized size of the second portion 16 of the gate helpsreduce gate capacitance.

In addition to the electron-injecting floating field effect transistor,the floating P type well and floating N+ type well structures alsoinvolve a local electron-injecting NPN bipolar structure. The floating Ptype well region 12 has a waved bottom interface 25 with the underlyingN− type drift layer 6. Due to the waved form of this interface 25, thefloating P type well region has a thinner portion 26 and a plurality ofthicker portions 27 and 28. The thinner portion 26 of the floating Ptype well region 12 is less than half as thick as the thicker portions27 and 28. In the specific example of FIG. 1, the depth of the floatingN+ well region 13 and of the N+ type emitter region 11 is 0.3 microns,the depth 48 of the thinner portion 26 of the floating P type wellregion 12 is 0.5 microns, the depth 47 of the thicker portions 27 and 28of the floating P type well region 12 is 2.5 microns, and the depth 49of the deeper P+ type portion 10 of the P type body region 7 is 3.5microns. At the location of the thinner portion 26, a localelectron-injecting NPN bipolar transistor structure is formed, with alocal portion of the floating N+ type well 13 being the emitter, withthe thin portion 26 of the floating P type well region 12 being thebase, and with N− type semiconductor material of the N− type driftregion 6 being the collector. Due to electrons flowing into the floatingwell structures 13 and 12, this local electron-injecting NPN bipolartransistor structure is turned on. As a result, electrons are locallyinjected down into the N− type drift region 6 from the area of thinnerportion 26. There is such electron injection from all thinner areas ofthe floating P type well. Although only one such thinner area 26 isshown in the particular cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the illustrationof FIG. 3 is a simplification made for illustration purposes. In a realdevice, the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 would typically includeseveral thinner and several thicker regions oriented so that there areseveral local electron-injecting bipolar transistors disposed in theplane of FIG. 3 along a single line of electron flow between the firstchannel region 18 and the second channel region 19.

In the off state of the IGBT structure, there may be a high reversevoltage present across the device between the collector and the emitter.The floating P type well region 12 is made thicker where it is adjacentthe first channel region 18 and the P type body region 7. The depth 46of the floating P type well region at this location adjacent the firstchannel region is the substantially the same as the depth 47 of thelighter P type doped portion 9 of the P type body region 7. Due to thefloating P type well region 12 being deep in these areas adjacent to thefirst channel region 18, the curvature of the electric field under highreverse voltages in the IGBT off state is relaxed. The less-sharpcurvature of the electric field at the sides of the heavily P+ typedoped portion of the P type body region 7 serves to increase the reversevoltage at which the IGBT suffers reverse breakdown.

FIG. 4 is a top-down diagram of the gate structure of a unit cell 1 ofthe IGBT die structure of FIG. 1. The other layers and regions of theunit cell are not shown in FIG. 4. The boundary of the unit cell 1, whenconsidered from the top-down perspective, is a square. The first portion15 of the gate is the outer octagonal ring of a larger width and thesecond portion 16 of the gate is the inner octagonal ring of a smallerwidth. The two portions of the gate are joined by bridges 29-32. Theentire gate structure is a patterned layer of polysilicon.

FIG. 5 is a top-down diagram of the unit cell 1, but in this diagram thestructures of the unit cell at the semiconductor surface are shown,without the gate obscuring them. Note that from the top-down perspectiveof the diagram, there are actually four N+ type emitter regions 11A,11B, 11C and 11D that together form an octagon. These N+ type emitterregions substantially ring and surround the floating P type well region12 and the floating N+ type well region 13. In this way, there may bemultiple N+ type emitter regions that align with one another end-to-endto form such a ringed structure that surrounds the floating P and N+type well regions, or alternatively there may be a single N+ typeemitter region that by itself rings and surrounds the floating P and N+type well regions. When the IGBT unit cell is considered from thetop-down perspective, the electron injector portion 20 is an octagonalring that is centrally located in the unit cell. The octagonal ring ofthe electron injector portion 20 extends along the inside edge of thecentral octagonal hole in the floating P type well region 12. Thefloating P type well region 12 has the shape of a thin washer, or donut.The outer octagonal periphery of the floating P type well region isidentified by reference numeral 12A. The inner octagonal periphery ofthe floating P type well region is identified by reference numeral 12B.The floating N+ type well region 13 is of the same general shape as thefloating P type well region 12, only its outer periphery is less widethan the outer periphery of the floating P type well region, and itsinner periphery is wider than the inner periphery of the floating P typewell region 12. The floating N+ type well region 13 actually involvesfour separate regions 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D in this example. Thefloating N+ type well region 13 is thinner in depth as compared to thethicker floating P type well region 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The firstchannel region 18 is actually a ring that extends around the outerperiphery of the floating N+ type well region. The first channel region18, as the term is used here, extends outward from the outer peripheryof the floating N+ type well region 13 to the inside periphery of theoctagon formed by the N+ type emitter regions. The second channel region19 is actually also a ring. The second channel region 19 extends aroundthe inner octagonal periphery of the floating N+ type well region 13.

FIGS. 6A through 28A, and 6B through 28B are sets of diagrams thatillustrate a method of manufacturing the IGBT die structure of FIG. 1.An N+ type buffer layer is disposed over the top major surface 3 of aP++ type layer. In one example, the P++ type layer is a layer ofsemiconductor substrate of monocrystalline wafer material and the N+type buffer layer 3 is formed on the top major surface 4 by epitaxialdeposition. An N− drift layer 6 is disposed over the N+ type bufferlayer 3. In one example, the N− drift layer 6 is formed by epitaxialdeposition as well. This structure, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is thestarting material for the process. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B illustrate a nextstep in which the entire upper surface of the N− drift layer 6 isimplanted with a light dose of phosphorus. The arrows in the diagramrepresent this implanting. Next, as represented by FIGS. 8A and 8B, thephosphorus dopants are driven in a drive-in step, and a sacrificialoxide layer is grown. The sacrificial oxide layer is then etched off,and a quality gate oxide layer 30 is formed. As a result, the surfaceportion of the N− type drift layer 6 has a slightly higher concentrationof N type dopants as compared to the remainder of the N− type driftlayer. Alternatively, in another example, the sacrificial oxidation stepcan occur before the light implantation step of FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B.Next, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a layer of polysilicon 31 isdeposited. Next, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, a polysilicon mask 32 isformed. Next, as shown in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, the polysilicon layeris etched to form the gate of the IGBT, including the first gate portion15 and the second gate portion 16. Next, as shown in FIG. 12A and FIG.12B, the polysilicon mask is removed. Next, as shown in FIGS. 13A and13B, a ring mask 33 involving portions 33A, 33B, 33C and 33D is formed.The ring mask 33 is used in a subsequent P type dopant implant step. Inthe active area, shallow implant regions 34A, 34B and 34C are formed. Inthe edge termination area, shallow implant regions 34D and 34E areformed. Shallow implant region 34D will form an intermediate P typeregion 35. Shallow implant region 34E will form a floating ring 36.Although not shown here in this simplified diagram, there are many suchrings and other implant regions formed in the edge termination region,as well as an outer channel stopper structure. Only the formation of theintermediate region 35 and the floating ring 36 are set forth in thissequence of diagrams due to space limitations in the drawings. In theactive area, shallow implant region 34C will form part of the P typebody region 7. Shallow implants 34B and 34A will merge together to formthe floating P type well region 12. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 14A andFIG. 14B, the ring mask 33 is removed, and a P+ implant mask 37 isformed. A heavy P+ implant is performed as indicated by the arrows inthe diagram, thereby forming the heavily implanted P type implant region38. The heavy P+ type implant region 38 will form the more heavily dopedand deeper portion 10 of the P type body region 7. Next, as shown inFIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, the P+ implant mask 37 is removed, and a drive-instep is performed to drive in the P type dopants. Dopants of the two Ptype shallow implant regions 34A and 34B merge together to form thesingle floating P type well region 12, where the bottom interface 25 ofthe floating P type well region 12 to the underlying N− drift layer 6has the illustrated novel waved form. This is accomplished withoutadding any additional mask step to the IGBT formation process. Parts ofthe floating P type well region that correspond to locations directlyunder the shallow implant regions 34A and 34B are relatively deep,whereas the part of the floating P type well region that corresponds tothe location under the mask portion 33B of FIG. 13A is relativelyshallow. Accordingly, the features of the P well and ring mask can beset in order to set and tailor the waved contour of the bottom interfacesurface 25 of the floating P type well region. Next, as shown in FIG.16A and FIG. 16B, an N+ mask 39 is formed. Next, as shown in FIG. 17Aand FIG. 17B, the exposed gate oxide is etched away, and an N+ typedopant implant step is performed as represented by the arrows. As aresult, shallow N+ type implant regions 39A and 39B are formed. Next, asshown in FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B, the N+ implant mask is removed. As shownin FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B, the N+ dopants are then driven in to form thefloating N+ well region 13 and the N+ type emitter region 11. Theseparate drive-in step of FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B is optional, and thedrive in can occur during the next ILD reflow step. As shown in FIG. 20Aand FIG. 20B, an ILD (Insulation Layer Deposition) step is performed todeposit an insulation layer 40, and the insulation layer is reflowed tohave a relatively planar upper surface. Next, as shown in FIG. 21A andFIG. 21B, an oxide etch mask 41 is formed, and the oxide layer 40 isetched to expose contact areas down to the silicon. There is one suchcontact area 42 in the center of the P type body region 7. This contactarea 42 extends out to expose part of the upper surface of the N+ typeemitter region 11. In addition, contact areas down to the polysilicongate are formed. The location of these contract areas down to thepolysilicon gate are not in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 21A or FIG.21B. The etched layer 40 is the oxide layer 21 of FIG. 1. Next, as shownin FIGS. 22A and 22B, the oxide etch mask 41 is removed. Next, as shownin FIG. 23A and FIG. 23B, topside metal 43 is deposited to cover theentire topside surface of the wafer so that metal extends down into allthe exposed contact areas. As is known in the art, the metal depositionstep may actually involve multiple different metal deposition steps sothat the ultimate metal electrodes will have any necessary barrier metallayers. Next, as shown in FIG. 24A and FIG. 24B, a metal mask 44 isformed. Next, as shown in FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B, the topside metal 43 isetched to form the gate electrode (not shown) and the emitter electrode22. Metal of the gate electrode makes contact with the polysilicon gate.Metal of the emitter electrode 22 makes contact with the P type bodyregion 7 and the N+ type emitter region 11. The metal mask 44 isremoved. Next, as shown in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B, nitride passivation 45is deposed over the entire topside of the wafer. A pad mask is formed,and a nitride etch step is performed, and the nitride mask is removed.As a result, contact openings through the nitride passivation 45 areopened to expose bond pad areas on the top of the gate electrode metaland on the top of the emitter electrode metal. Next, as illustrated inFIG. 27A and FIG. 27B, the P++ type semiconductor wafer is thinned bybackside grinding. The arrows in the diagram represent backsidegrinding. Next, as shown in FIG. 28A and FIG. 28B, metal is deposited onthe backside (bottomside) surface 24 of the wafer structure, therebyforming the collector electrode 23. The resulting wafer is then diced,and packaged, and tested as is conventional.

Although an example of the novel floating P type and N+ type wellregions is set forth above where the floating P type and N+ typestructures of the unit cell have just one coaxial and central opening,and where there is just one circular electron injector portion 20 in theform of a centrally located ring, the novel floating P type and N+ typewell regions can have other shapes and geometries in other embodiments.FIGS. 29-32 illustrate several exemplary shapes and geometries. In thediagrams, lines 46-49 represent the outer edges of the pictured unitcells. The dashed lines 50-53 represent the rings formed by the N+ typeemitter region or regions. As set forth above, a single N+ type emitterregion can extend around and ring and surround the floating P type wellregion as represented by the dashed line, or alternatively multiple N+type emitter regions can be disposed in end-to-end fashion so thattogether they together form the ring represented by the dashed line. TheN+ type emitter region or regions need not be one contiguous ring, butrather in some embodiments the N+ type emitter structure that surroundsthe floating P type well region has narrow breaks between differentlengths of N+ type emitter material. Note, for example, that in theexample of FIG. 5 there are four N+ type emitter regions 11A, 11B, 11Cand 11D. These four N+ type emitter regions are disposed in asubstantially end-to-end fashion so that they together ring and surrounda central floating P type well region and its associated floating N+type well region. In FIGS. 29-32, reference numerals 54-57 representfloating P type well regions. In FIG. 29 there are actually two floatingP type well regions, but these two regions are identified by the samereference numeral 54. Likewise, in FIG. 32, there are two floating Ptype well regions, but these two regions are identified by the samereference numeral 57. The floating N+ type well structures are not shownin FIGS. 29-32. In FIGS. 29-32, reference numerals 58-69 representelectron injector portions. As indicated by FIGS. 29-32, there may bemore than one electron injector portion in the IGBT unit cell. Also, asshown in FIGS. 29 and 32, there may be more than one floating P typewell region that is surrounded by a ring of one or more N+ type emitterregions. Also, the unit cell may be of various shapes. In the examplesof FIGS. 29 and 30, the unit cells and the rings formed by the N+ typeemitter region or regions are squares. In the examples of FIGS. 31 and32, the unit cells and the rings formed by the N+ type emitter region orregions are elongated rectangles. A floating P type well structure mayform multiple holes when the floating P type well is considered from thetop-down perspective, where each corresponding one of the holes containsa separate ring-shaped electron injector portion. Each of the P typewell structures of FIG. 30 and FIG. 31 has four such octagonal holes,where each hole contains an octagonal electron injector portion.Accordingly, the floating P and N+ type structures, and the associatedsecond portions of the gate, can be made to have many different shapes,including shapes not illustrated. The number and locations of theelectron injector portions and the number and locations of the thinnerportions of the floating P type well region are set to optimize chargecarrier concentration and distribution in the underlying N− type driftlayer during the IGBT on state.

Although certain specific embodiments are described above forinstructional purposes, the teachings of this patent document havegeneral applicability and are not limited to the specific embodimentsdescribed above. An IGBT structure can employ the waved floating P typewell region with its floating N+ type well region, without the IGBTstructure having to have a second channel region, without the IGBTstructure having any second portion of its gate over such a secondchannel region, and without the IGBT structure having to have anyelectron injector portion of N type semiconductor material disposed atthe upper semiconductor surface adjacent any such second channel region.

The aspect of the waved floating P-well can be incorporated into an IGBTstructure without the incorporating of the aspect of theelectron-injecting field effect transistor. For example, an IGBTstructure such as is shown in FIG. 1 may not have the second portion 16of the gate 14, but rather may have its floating P type and N+ type wellregions 12 and 13 extend all the way to the left to line A in FIG. 1such that the illustrated electron injector portion 20 does not exist inthe structure. In such an embodiment, the floating N+ type well region13 may extend over multiple separate thinner portions of the floating Ptype well region 12. The waved contour of the bottom of the floating Ptype well region 12 in this embodiment may have many crests and manytroughs.

Moreover, the feature of the floating P type and N+ type well regions 12and 13 that inject charge carriers into the N− type drift layer 6 is notlimited to use in a planar IGBT structure such as is shown in FIG. 1,but rather applies generally to any IGBT structure or topology includingtrench IGBT structures such as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 8,344,480 (theentire subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference). Ina trench IGBT structure such the one set forth in FIG. 2b of U.S. Pat.No. 8,344,480, a floating P type well region is disposed in a dummy cellbetween adjacent gate trenches, and a floating N+ type well region ismade to extend down into the floating P type well region. Unlike thestructure set forth in FIG. 2B of U.S. Pat. No. 8,344,480, however, thebottom contour of the floating P type well region in accordance with thepresent invention is made to have a waved contour so that the floating Ptype well region has thinner portions and thicker portions. The floatingP type well region is made to be thicker at the sides where it isadjacent a trench. The floating P type well region with the localbipolar electron-injecting transistors can be implemented in this trenchstructure without the use of any second channel region. Rather, thefloating P type and N+ type well regions may extend all the way from onetrench on one side of the dummy cell to the next nearest trench on theother side of the dummy cell without there being any second channelregion at the upper semiconductor surface. Alternatively, the floatingwell structures are not made to extend all the way across the dummycell, but rather an electron injector portion of the underlying N− driftlayer is disposed at the upper semiconductor surface in the center ofthe dummy cell. A second channel region or multiple channel regionsis/are controlled by a second portion of the gate electrode where thegate electrode extends over the dummy cell. Either one or both of theelectron-injection bipolar transistor aspect and the electron-injectingfloating field effect transistor aspect can be incorporated into atrench IGBT structure such as the trench IGBT structure of FIG. 2b ofU.S. Pat. No. 8,344,480. Accordingly, various modifications,adaptations, and combinations of various features of the describedembodiments can be practiced without departing from the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

In accordance with another embodiment, an IGBT die structure has afloating N+ type well region 13 above a waved floating P type wellregion 12, but no second channel, second gate portion or electroninjector portion. The IGBT structure has floating N+ type well region 13above floating P type well region 12, but without the second channel 19,the second portion 16 of gate 14 over the second channel 19, and theelectron injector portion 20 adjacent the second channel 19 of FIG. 1'sIGBT structure 2.

FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional diagram of a unit cell 71 of an IGBT diestructure 72. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 33 is taken alongsectional line A′-A in the top-down diagram of FIG. 34. The line labeledA at the left of FIG. 33 corresponds to a central location 73 in theunit cell structure of FIG. 34. IGBT structure 72 has no second portionof its gate 14. Rather, floating P type and N+ type well regions 12 and13 extend all the way to the left to line A in FIG. 33 so that noinjector portion 20 exists in the structure. The floating N+ type wellregion 13 extends over multiple crests and troughs of the floating Ptype well region 12. From a top-down perspective, the crests andthroughs form a plurality of concentric thicker bands and thinner ringsthat are disposed between the thicker bands. In this embodiment, thewaved contour of the bottom of the floating P type well region 12 hastwo concentric thinner rings 74-75 and three thicker bands 76-78. Eachthinner portion 74-75 is between two thicker portions 76-78. Thus, thewaved floating P-well 12 is incorporated into IGBT structure 72 withoutincorporating any electron-injecting portion 20.

IGBT structure 72 has the same layers above collector metal electrode 23as does IGBT structure 2 of FIG. 1. P++ type semiconductor substratelayer 5 is disposed over collector terminal 23. N+ type buffer layer 3is disposed over the top of P++ type substrate layer 5. N− type driftlayer 6 is in turn disposed over the N+ type buffer layer 3. P type bodyregion 7 and floating P type well region 12 both extend down into the N−type drift layer 6 from upper semiconductor surface 8 such that bodyregion 7 and well region 12 are laterally separated from one another byan amount of N− type drift layer 6. N+ type emitter region 11 andfloating N+ type well region 13 both extend from upper semiconductorsurface 8 down into P type body region 7 and floating P type well region12 such that regions 11 and 13 are separated from one another at uppersemiconductor surface 8 by channel 18, which includes a strip of driftlayer 6 flanked by borders of regions 7 and 12.

In the embodiment of FIG. 33, which is seen from the top-downperspective in FIG. 35, the N+ type floating well region 13 actuallyinvolves four N+ type leaves 13A-D. FIG. 34 shows a layer above uppersemiconductor surface 8 in which polysilicon gate 14 forms a ring 79.Gate 14 is separated from upper semiconductor surface 8 by gateinsulation layer 17. Ring 79 of gate 14 extends over channel 18. Channel18 extends under gate 14 from the left edge of N+ type emitter region 11to the right edge of floating N+ type well region 13, as shown in FIG.33. Placing a voltage on gate 14 causes P type semiconductor material ofthe P type body region 7 to invert and causes an accumulation layer toform at the surface of the N− type semiconductor material betweenregions 7 and 12. Channel 18 is thereby made conductive all the way fromthe N+ type emitter region 11 to the floating N+ type well region 13.The embodiment of FIG. 33 has no second channel region. Oxide layer 21covers gate 14, and emitter metal electrode 22 covers oxide layer 21.Emitter electrode 22 is coupled to both N+ type emitter region 11 and Ptype body region 7. Although gate metal electrode 70 is also disposedover oxide layer 21 and is coupled to gate 14, electrode 70 is not shownin FIG. 33 because it is not present in the depicted cross section.

FIG. 34 is a top-down diagram of gate 14 of unit cell 71 of IGBTstructure 72. The boundary of the unit cell 71, when considered from thetop-down perspective, is a square. Gate 14 is a patterned layer ofpolysilicon that forms octagonal ring 79.

FIG. 35 is a top-down diagram of unit cell 71 showing the regions atupper semiconductor surface 8. From the top-down perspective, there arefour parts 11A-D of N+ type emitter region 11 that together form anoctagon. These four parts 11A-D substantially surround floating P typewell region 12 and the floating N+ type well region 13. From thetop-down perspective of unit cell 71, floating P type well region 12 isan octagonal disk whose outer periphery is identified by referencenumeral 12A. Floating N+ type well region 13 has a shape similar to thatof floating P type well region 12, except that its outer periphery isless wide than the outer periphery 12A of floating P type well region12. In this embodiment, floating N+ type well region 13 actually hasfour separate leaves 13A-D and resembles a clover leaf. As shown in FIG.33, floating N+ type well region 13 is thinner in depth than floating Ptype well region 12. Channel 18 is a ring that extends outward from theouter periphery of floating N+ type well region 13 to the insideperiphery of the octagon formed by the N+ type emitter regions 11A-D.

FIG. 36 is a top-down diagram of unit cell 71 showing the regions atupper semiconductor surface 8. From the top-down perspective, floating Ptype well region 12 is an octagonal disk whose substantially octagonalouter periphery has rounded corners.

What is claimed is:
 1. An Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) diestructure comprising: a P type collector layer; an N− type drift layerdisposed over the P type collector layer; a P type body region thatextends into the N− type drift layer; an N+ type emitter region, whereinthe N+ type emitter region extends into the P type body region from anupper semiconductor surface; a floating P type well region that extendsinto the N− type drift layer from the upper semiconductor surface andthat is laterally separated from the P type body region, wherein thefloating P type well region forms a waved bottom interface with theunderlying N− type drift layer, and wherein the floating P type wellregion has a thinner portion disposed between two of a plurality ofthicker portions; a floating N+ type well region that extends into thefloating P type well region from the upper semiconductor surface,wherein the floating N+ type well region extends over the thinnerportion; a gate disposed above a channel, wherein the channel extendsfrom the N+ type emitter region, across a part of the P type bodyregion, across a portion of the N− type drift layer, and across a partof the floating P type well region, to the floating N+ type well region,wherein in an IGBT transistor on state electrons flow in a current pathfrom the N+ type emitter region, through the channel and into thefloating N+ type well region, to the thinner portion and then down intothe N− type drift layer; a first metal terminal, wherein the first metalterminal is coupled to the P type body region and to the N+ type emitterregion; a second metal terminal, wherein the second metal terminal iscoupled to the gate; and a third metal terminal that is coupled to the Ptype collector layer.
 2. The IGBT die structure of claim 1, wherein thethinner portion of the floating P type well region is less than half asthick as the thicker portions of the floating P type well region.
 3. TheIGBT die structure of claim 1, further comprising: an N+ type bufferlayer disposed between the P type collector layer and the N− type driftlayer.
 4. The IGBT die structure of claim 1, wherein the gate extendsover some but not all of the floating N+ type well region.
 5. The IGBTdie structure of claim 1, wherein the floating P type body region issurrounded by one or more of the N+ type emitter regions when the IGBTdie structure is considered from a top-down perspective.
 6. The IGBT diestructure of claim 1, wherein the N+ type emitter region and a pluralityof other N+ type emitter regions together substantially surround thefloating P type well region when the IGBT die structure is consideredfrom the top-down perspective.
 7. The IGBT die structure of claim 1,wherein the N+ type emitter region is a single N+ type emitter regionthat by itself substantially surrounds the floating P type well regionwhen the IGBT die structure is considered from the top-down perspective.8. An Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) die structure comprising:a P type collector layer; an N− type drift layer disposed over the Ptype collector layer; a P type body region that extends into the N− typedrift layer; an N+ type emitter region, wherein the N+ type emitterregion extends into the P type body region from an upper semiconductorsurface; a floating P type well region that extends into the N− typedrift layer from the upper semiconductor surface and that is laterallyseparated from the P type body region, wherein the floating P type wellregion forms a waved bottom interface with the underlying N− type driftlayer, wherein the floating P type well region has a thinner portion anda plurality of thicker portions, and wherein the floating P type wellregion has a substantially octagonal outer periphery when the IGBT diestructure is considered from the top-down perspective; a floating N+type well region that extends into the floating P type well region fromthe upper semiconductor surface, wherein the floating N+ type wellregion extends over the thinner portion, and wherein the floating P typewell region surrounds a substantially octagonal area of the floating N+type well region; a gate disposed above a channel, wherein the channelextends from the N+ type emitter region, across a part of the P typebody region, across a portion of the N− type drift layer, and across apart of the floating P type well region, to the floating N+ type wellregion, wherein in an IGBT transistor on state electrons flow in acurrent path from the N+ type emitter region, through the channel andinto the floating N+ type well region, to the thinner portion and thendown into the N− type drift layer; a first metal terminal, wherein thefirst metal terminal is coupled to the P type body region and to the N+type emitter region; a second metal terminal, wherein the second metalterminal is coupled to the gate; and a third metal terminal that iscoupled to the P type collector layer.
 9. The IGBT die structure ofclaim 8, wherein the substantially octagonal outer periphery of thefloating P type well region has rounded corners.
 10. The IGBT diestructure of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a first inversionlayer portion, an accumulation layer portion, and a second inversionlayer portion, wherein the first inversion layer portion extends fromthe N+ type emitter region and across part of the P type body region,wherein the accumulation layer portion extends from the first inversionlayer portion to the second inversion layer portion, and wherein thesecond inversion layer portion extends from the accumulation layerportion, across part of the floating P type well region, and to thefloating N+ type well region.
 11. The IGBT die structure of claim 1,wherein the floating P type well region has multiple separate thinnerportions, wherein each of the multiple separate thinner portions isdisposed between two of the plurality of thicker portions, and whereinthe floating N+ type well region extends over every one of the multipleseparate thinner portions.
 12. A semiconductor device comprising: a Ptype collector layer; an N− type drift layer disposed over the P typecollector layer; a P type body region that extends into the N− typedrift layer; an N+ type emitter region, wherein the N+ type emitterregion extends into the P type body region from an upper semiconductorsurface; a floating P type well region that extends into thesemiconductor device from the upper semiconductor surface and that islaterally separated from the P type body region, wherein the floating Ptype well region has a concentric thinner portion between concentricthicker portions; a floating N+ type well region that extends into thefloating P type well region from the upper semiconductor surface; a gatethat extends over a channel, wherein the channel extends from the N+type emitter region and to the floating N+ type well region, wherein ina device on state electrons flow from the N+ type emitter region,through the channel, into the floating N+ type well region, to thethinner portion and then down into the N− type drift layer; a firstmetal terminal coupled to the P type body region and to the N+ typeemitter region; a second metal terminal coupled to the gate; and a thirdmetal terminal coupled to the P type collector layer.
 13. Thesemiconductor device of claim 12, wherein the concentric thinner portionof the floating P type well region is less than half as thick as theconcentric thicker portions of the floating P type well region.
 14. Thesemiconductor device of claim 12, wherein the floating P type wellregion when considered from a top-down perspective has an outerperiphery, wherein the outer periphery has a shape taken from the groupconsisting of: an octagon, a square with rounded corners, a rectanglewith rounded corners, a circle, and a ring.
 15. The semiconductor deviceof claim 12, further comprising: an N+ type buffer layer disposedbetween the P type collector layer and the N− type drift layer.
 16. AnInsulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) die structure comprising: a Ptype collector layer; an N− type drift layer disposed over the P typecollector layer; a P type body region that extends into the N− typedrift layer; an N+ type emitter region, wherein the N+ type emitterregion extends into the P type body region; a floating P type wellregion that extends into the N− type drift layer, wherein the floating Ptype well region is laterally separated from the P type body region,wherein the floating P type well region has a plurality of concentricthicker bands, and wherein thinner rings are disposed between thethicker bands; a floating N+ type well region that extends into thefloating P type well region; a gate that extends over a channel, whereinthe channel extends from the N+ type emitter region, across a first partof the P type body region, across a part of the N− type drift layer,across a part of the floating P type well region, and to the floating N+type well region, and wherein the gate has a ring shape; a first metalterminal, wherein the first metal terminal is coupled to the P type bodyregion and to the N+ type emitter region; a second metal terminal,wherein the second metal terminal is coupled to the gate; and a thirdmetal terminal that is coupled to the P type collector layer.
 17. TheIGBT die structure of claim 16, wherein the ring shape of the gate is anoctagonal shape, and wherein each thinner rings has an octagonal shape.18. The IGBT die structure of claim 16, wherein the floating P type wellregion forms a waved bottom interface with the underlying N− type driftlayer.
 19. The IGBT die structure of claim 16, wherein each of thethinner rings less than half as thick as each of the thicker bands,wherein a portion of the floating N+ type well region is an emitter of alocal electron-injecting NPN bipolar transistor, wherein a portion ofthe floating P type well region at each of the thinner rings is a baseof the local electron-injecting NPN bipolar transistor, and wherein aportion of the N− type drift layer adjacent each of the thinner rings isa collector of the local electron-injecting NPN bipolar transistor. 20.The IGBT die structure of claim 16, wherein the floating N+ type wellregion extends over every one of the thinner rings of the floating Ptype well region.